Fluorescent hand lamp construction



June 9, 1953 v J. G. PEsslNA 2,641,585

Y FLUORESCENT HAND LAMP CONSTRUCTION 52) M3@ Y u '73 //V l/EA/Top:

Jan-PH 6. PES5/NAI JMS grr-ORNE# June 9, 1953 J. G. PEsslNA 2,641,685

FLUORESCENT HAND LAMP CONSTRUCTION Filed May 22, 1951 3 -Sheets-Sheet 3"53 /N WINT-oe:

Josep# 6. Pessimo) ,5M Jal/.s Arr @MEV Patented June 9, 1953 FLUORESCENTHAND LAMP CONSTRUCTION Joseph G. Pessina, St. Louis, Mo., assignor toEmro Manufacturing Company, Incorporated,

St. Louis, Mo.

Application May 22, 1951,-Serial No. 227,555

5 Claims.

The present invention relates generally to a novel and improvedconstruction for fluorescent hand lamps. y

More particularly, the invention is directed to an improved constructionfor fluorescent hand lamps of the type which is characterized by beingprovided withv a self-contained source 'of power, so that immediateillumination is available by the manipulation of a switch.

The demand for this type of lamp is increasing, so much so that lanternsand similar devices are being replaced thereby.

Fluorescent hand lamps are invaluable in emergencies, for example in thecase of train wrecks at night, oods, and so on, in fact whereverillumination is requisite, and electrical power is not available; Lampsof this type are also employed in loading merchandise on carriers atnight, aboard ship, in mines and sov on, as is understood.

The power in this type of lamp is lordinarily supplied by a pair ofstandard 45 volt B batteries, and one of the principal disadvantages inconstructions heretofore, has been the diiculty encountered in batteryunloading and reloading.

The primary object of the present invention is t0 overcome this andother disadvantages heretofore inherent in these lamps.

The lamp of the present invention provides means whereby the replacementof batteries becomes a simple and quickly accomplished operation. Tothis end as Will appear, the batteries are supported'within the lampcasing on a strap member hinged at one end to the vlower portion of askeleton framework which depends from, and is secured at its upper endto,.the top cover member for the casing.

The other end of the battery supporting strap member terminates in a'resilient latch portion adapted to releasably engage a lower portion ofthe framework opposite that portion to'which the other end of said strapmember is hingedly attached.

The skeleton framework as stated, is rigidly attached at its upper endto the cover for the casing, and a handle is provided onsaid cover, sothat the latterl and the framework maybe lifted as a unit from thecasing, as will appear. With this arrangement, and becauseof otherprovisions to appear, replacement of batteries is facilitated. It willalso. be seen, that all of the wiring and other elements associated withthe lighting system are so mounted as to be undisturbed during theremoval and insertion of said unit, andthe replacement of batteriestherein.

Other objects of the invention are toprovlde a waterproof construction;to provide for such weight distribution that the lamp will float withits front, or light diffusing portion above the water level; and toprovideeasily accessible and manipulative means for turning on theswitch 'to produce almost instantaneous illumination'ofV of Fig. l, withthe batteries omitted in the in- Y terest 'of clarity;

Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken on Lim@ 4 4 of Fig. 3;

' Fig. 5 is a, right end elevational view of the casing, and of theinsert unit assembly of the invention, the latter being portrayed as itappears when lifted out of the former;

Fig. 6 is a horizontalV sectional plan view through the casing, beingVtaken on line B-B of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a full scale view partly in section, being taken on line 1--1of Fig. 5;

Fig. 8 is a rear elevational view of 'the insert" ,g unit assembly perse; 'Y 1 V y Fig. 9 is'a left end elevational view thereof.;

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary sectional view, on an enlarged scale, :taken'online Ill---Hl of Fig. 2;

Fig. 11 is a top plan view of the casing as it appears with the insertunit assembly removed;

Fig. 12 is a detail view 0f one of the two guide strips provided for theslidable reception of the marginal portions of a reflector memberincluded in said assembly; l

Fig. 13 is a vertical sectional view, on an enlarged scale, takenapproximately on line l3--I3 of Fig. 1; f

Fig. 14 is a vertical sectional view-on an enlarged scale, taken on line|4-I4 of Fig. 4;

Fig. l5 is a similar view taken on line lli- I5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 16 is a' fragmentary reproduction of the lower portion of Fig. 8,illustrating the simple .manner whereby the batteries may ber replaced;

5 .and

Fig. 1'7 is a diagrammatical presentation of a 3 iluorescent lightingsystem, the included components of which are incorporated in the insertunit assembly aforesaid.

It is noted at the outset, that the invention is not concerned with thefluorescent lighting system as such. That is to say, no claim whateveris made to the conventional system illustrated diagrammatically in Fig.17. Said View is presented only for the purpose of demonstrating inconjunction `with other views, that an important feature of theinvention resides in the arrangement whereby a complete lighting systemis incorporated in the removable insert unit assembly.

In Figs. 1 through 4, a iluorescent hand lamp constructed in accordancewith the teachings of this invention is designated as a whole by numeral20.

It includes two main and separable assemblies which normally, that iswhen the lamp is in use, are so to speak telescopically united and.rigidly secured together, as lwill appear.

'The' first of these main assemblies consists of a housing or casing,open at the '.top, and generally indicated by numeral 22. Thiscasving'is of sturdy constructiompreferably of hardenedv steel, and thesubstantially rectangular body portion 24 thereof isadapted to withstandconsiderable abuse without injuryr thereto.

YIncluded in said body portion are side walls 26, a rear wall 28, and afront wall comprising two segments or horizontally separated panelmembers: 30 all vintegrally formed, as the drawings clearly illustrate.

J Spanning and enclosing'the space obtaining -between the Ainnermarginsof panels 30, is an arcuate lens member 32, molded-of heavy translucentplastic material lso as'to terminate in integral dat marginal portions3i as seen to best advantage VinFigs. l6 and `=1|).

When lens Vmember 32 is securely maintained in place as will appear, itismani'festthat it combines with the Vpanels 3.0 Ato form the front wallof casing 22.

The bottom wall of said casing is designated Y36, and is provided withan upstanding peripheral flange 38. The topr Wallis designated 40, andis provided with a depending peripheral ilange "42. Obviously, andas-thedrawings show, the peripheral congurations of both the top andbottom-walls, when viewed in plan, correspond -to the horizontalcross-sectional configuration of casing 22. "As particularly clear froman inspectionof Fig. 11, the major portion of top Lwall 'll'v is open,having been removed to provide a generally Yrectangular openingV 4t,including'a pair of spaced V-shaped notches et', and a relatively large'U- `shaped notch 48 formed centrally of said notches 4 6.. The marginalportion '5d of said wall has formed therein, in predetermined spaced-re'lation, a series of threaded vertical apertures 52, and the frontportion of depending flange 42 has four spaced horizontal aperturesformed therein.

Bottom wall 3'6 is solid, and dange rthereof is likewise provided withfour horizontal apertures spaced similarly to those in flange L32.

Welded as the drawings indicate, or otherwise rigidly attached to theupper surface of the bottom wall, are combined guide and retainer clips54, the vpurpose of which will appear.

Each o'f these clips includes a flat base portion t, and a pair ofupstanding wing portions 58, the upper marginal edge portions 00 of thelatter being ared outwardly, as best seen in Fig. 5.

Illustrated per se in Fig. 12, is one of a pair of elongated channelshaped plates 62, which as will appear, serve a dual purpose. One flangeportion 6d of each plate is angularly disposed, and the base portion 66thereof isprovided with a plurality of spacedl apertures 68 whichcorrespond to a similar series or apertures provided in each panel 30.

The assembled casing 22 is permanently sealed against entry of moistureby the provision of a rubber gasket 70 along each panel 30; a gasket "l2interposed between bottom ilange 38 and the lower end of lens member 32;a gasket 74 interposed between upper flange 42 and the upper Vend ofsaid lens member; a line of solder or welding, as indicated at 76 inFig. 3 only, extending from edge `|8 of one panel 30 peripherally aroundthe casing to edge 1B of the other panel '30, and along kthe top edge ofnange" i313; and a similar seal :as indicated att@ in Figb' only, withrespect to flange 4.2.

As'Fig. 3 illustrates, lens member 32 extends from top wall A0 to bottomwall ofthe casing. This is likewise true of gaskets l0 and channelplates 62. Bolts 82, each passing through alined lholes in a panel 30,gasket l0, marginal portion 34 of lens 32, and through one ofthe'apertures -in a channel 02, have nuts B applied to the 'threadedends thereof.

As viewed in Fig. 2, ,the uppermostfand the lowermost bolts 82 also passAthrough .apertures in top and bottom flanges 42rand 38 respectively.

Thus, as should be clear-from an inspection oi Fig. `10, a seal isprovided along 'panel portions 30 from top to. bottom, while at the sametime, lens member Y32A is rigidly maintained lin position.

At the bottom, as Figs. 3, 4 and 6 demonstrate, lens ymember 32 isfurther secured, and `a seal is provided, by means of `an arcuate plate'86, bolts 88, nuts 00, and gasket 12,*as is understood. A similararrangement Ais provided at the top, and like parts which appear in thedrawings, are identified by the same numerals.

Ther open top 40 of the casing is normally sealed by Va cover memberincluded in the insert unit assembly of the invention, which comprisesthe second of Vsaid main assemblies, and is generally indicated bynumeral |00.

Included in assembly V|00 is said cover membei' designated |02; anupwardly extending handle |04 riveted as at |06, or otherwise rigidlysecured to said cover centrally thereof; a skeleton framework generallydesignated |08 which depends from, Yand isl rigidly secured to, saidcover member; a latching mechanism generally designated ||0 forreleasably supporting a pair of standard B vbatteries Within saidskeleton framework; an arcuate reflector H2; means for mounting andsupporting all'of the wiring and other elements shown diagrammaticallyin Fig. 17, and includedV in a conventional iluorescent light system;and means for effecting a seal between the cover |02, and the switch andthe'Y switch operating knob which are included in said lighting system.

Viewed in plan, the conguration of cover |02 is similar to that of `topVwall 40. Its peripheral edge H4 is turned downwardly, so as to definebetween said `edge and an endlessy depressed groove ||,6, a shallowchannel ||8 extending entirely around the margin ofthe cover, as shown.

As best seen in Fig. 7, a rubber gasket |20 is disposed in said channel,and said `gasket and cover member are provided with a series of spacedalined apertures |22 and |23 respectively, which register with thethreaded apertures 52 of top wall 40.

When the assembly is in position, screws |24 passing ythrough saidapertures and engaging in apertures 52, rmly seat the gasket-|20 againstwall 40, rigidly secure the cover in place, and thus effectively sealthe opening 44.

VAs shown in the drawings, framework |08 includes four corner angle bars|26, each welded or otherwise rigidly secured at its upper end to arectangular support |28. This support consists of four angle members|30, mi-tered and welded together at the corners, with their horizontalkflange portions welded to the underside of the cover member |02.

With this arrangement, it should be clear that said framework and saidcover form a rigid unitary assembly, which following extraction'ofscrews |24, may be lifted from casing 22 by means of handle |04, asportrayed especially in Fig. 5.

In Figs. 3, and 9, it is seen that the framework also includes twohorizontally disposed angle members |32, each Yof which has its endswelded or otherwise rigidly secured toa pair of said angle bars |26. Theangles |32 are disposed ata predetermined elevation, being so spacedrelative to latching mechanism ||0, that a pair of standard B batteriesin superposed relation, may be positioned between said mechanism andsaid angles.

As appears most clearly in Figs. 4, 5, 8 and 9, the lower ends of anglebars |26 are encompassed by a rectangular metal band |34, welded orotherwise rigidly attached thereto.

The `latching mechanism |10 includes a metal strap |36, one end of whichis riveted as at |38, to a-hinge |40, the latter in turn being rivetedas at |42, to a portion of said band |34, as particularly illustrated inFig. 14

The opposite end of strap |36 is bent normal thereto, whereby to form asemi-rigid or resilient upward extension |44, which as Fig. l5 inparticular illustrates, is adapted in the latched position to bearagainst an adjacent portionvof band |34, and terminates in a laterallyprojecting substantially V-shaped thumbpece portion |46, adapted tosnap.v over the upper edge |48 of band` |34.

As previously stated, .this invention makes no claim whatever .to anyparticular system whereby either intermittent or continuousilluminationin this type of lamp may be produced. The system.diagrammatically portrayed in Fig. 17 is-a standard one, but it is afeature of the'present invention that all of the included elements aremounted and supported in theassembly |00, so as to be removabletherewith en masse from casing 22. y'

With this in mind, only'the principal elements of the Fig. 1'7 diagramwill be specifically designated, it being taken for granted thataninspection of Figs. 3 through 5, and '7 through 9, will abundantlydemonstrate the disposition of the included wiring.

Thus .in numerical order, |50 indicates a first or upper battery; |52 asecond or lower battery;

|54 a socket for the upper and |56 a socket for the lower battery; |58 aplug for insertion into and removal from socket |54; |60 a plug forinsertion into and removal from socket' |56; |62 a fluorescent tube; |64the upper, and |66 the lower socket therefor; |68 a terminal plateassembly; |10 a resistor device; |12a' ballast assembly; |14 a switch;and |16 a knob, partial rotation of which in a clockwise direction willturn on said switch, and similar rotation of which in a counterclockwisedirection will turn it'off.

The manner in which the conventional socket members |64 and |66 aresupported will now be described with particular reference to Figs.t2, 3,4 and '7. The supporting structures for each` socket member are similar,so that the same reference characters are applied to the correspondingupper and lower elements included.

It is noted rst of all, that arcuate reflector 2 is rigidly secured toframework |28 in any suitable manner. Preferably as shown, screws |18passing through the upper and lower portions of said reflector and intoengagement with threaded apertures provided in front angle |30 and frontsegment of band |34, form the attaching means. Hollow spacer elementsmay be interposed about the screws as shown.

Adjacent the upper and lower ends thereof', portions of reflector ||2are extended forwardly to form angular brackets |82, the body portionbeing slotted as at |84 for this purpose.

Numerals |86 indicate angular hangers secured by screws |88 to saidbrackets as shown, and each of said hangers rigidly supports one of saidsocket members.

The upper and lower brackets |82, and the hangers |86 attached thereto,are cut out or notched as shown, to accommodate passage therethrough ofthe wires leading from the sockets to other elements of the lightingsystem.

From the foregoing, it should be apparent that a rigid mounting for tube|62 is provided, so that removal and insertion thereof is an easymatter.

The manner in which terminal plate assembly 168 is attached to the upperends of a pair of corner angles |26, is seen to best advantage in Figs.3, 7 and'9. There it is seen thatsaid assembly is clamped between twojaws |90 integrally formed with a strap member |92, the

ends cf which are secured by screws |94 to the left end pair of cornerangle bars |26, immediately below the vleft end angle member |30.

Resistor |10 is supported from assembly |68, as Fig. '7 clearly shows,and ballast lassembly |12 is supported in a U-shaped bracket |96 welded,or riveted as at |98, to the underside of cover Switch |14 isconventional, and includes a housing 200, 1an upwardly extending hollowthreaded portion 202, and a stem 204 projecting beyond the latter. A Theinvention provides means for mounting this assembly on the cover |02 ina manner to effectively seal the parts. Interposed'about portion 202,between the underside of said cover and the upper face ofhousing 200, isa rubber gasket 206, as illustrated in Fig. 13.` A similar gasket 206 isinterposed about portion '202, between the upper surface of said coverand the lower endl of a hollow nut 2|0. The latter is formed so as tocontain a rubber O-ring 2|2 which embraces the stem 204. Y p

It should be manifest that tightening ofnut 2|0 not only secures switchhousing 200 firmly` `ofwhich knob |76 'is-attached to stem 204.'Prefwith particular reference to Figs. 4, 6 and 10, it is `-:noted thatangular flanges Ed form with vthe marginal portions 34 of lens 32, apair of V- shaped vertical slideways 226, along which 4the `side edgesof reflector plate ride when the insert unit assembly mil-fis raised-orlowered.

In use, the assembled lamp of Figs. l and 2 is 'adapted to bringillumination with ease to any selected areaY or point. lHandle l|l5facilitates portability, and reflector H2, coated with diffusedaluminum, projects the llight over a wide spread. Handle |051 alsoserves to hang the lamp on a hooker other stationary projection, andobviously, the lamp may be employed lying on its side, or supported inan upright position, and so With the insert unit assembly in place, allofthe interior elements of the lamp are sealed, as has been explained indetail. rllhe provision of retainer clips 54, the resilient wingportions 58 of which engage band 34 at the corners thereof,

Ieliminates any tendency of the depending portion of said framework torattle, even with rough handling, as is understood.

rSwitch control knob |115 is most conveniently located for quickmanipulation, particularly in lcases where intermittent illumination isdesired. As hereinbefore indicated, an outstanding feature of theinvention resides in the assembly |00, which may be lifted from thecasing for vquick tube renewal or battery replacement. For this purpose,it is only necessary to remove the screws |24, and then raise the entireassembly by means of handle |04. Y v

Tube replacement may thus be easily accomplished, with the assembly H39in either upright orprone position. i

Replacement of the batteries, which are supported on strap |36, islikewise a simple matter,

as an inspection of Figs. 8 and 9, together with Figs. l5 and 16 shouldclarify.

In other words, as assembly |00 is suspended with one hand a shortdistance above a table or like surface, plugs |53 and Hit are withdrawnfrom sockets |54 and |55 with the otherhand.

Thereupon, application of slight inward pressure to thumbpiece |46 willcause resilient extension |45, to move inwardly from its latchedor fullline position of Fig. l5, to its unlatched or broken line position.

Immediately following thisroperation, the combined weight of batteriesi5@ and |52 will automatically cause strap |35 to swing downwardly abouthinge |40, and permit the batteries to slide out of framework |08, asFig. 16 amply .illustrates.

Thereupon, the insert unit is inverted; new batteries are dropped intoplace,the first battery coming torest against angle members |32, and thesecond battery against the ilrst'; strap |36 is swung into latchingposition; a slight blow is struck against the free end of said strapwhereby -V -shaped thumbpiece |46 snaps over the upper edge |48 of band|34; plugs |58 and |59 are put in place; handle |04 is grasped; thecomplete assembly is lowered into casing 22, as Fig. 5 also serves toillustrate; and screws |24 are replaced whereby to complete theoperation. f

yIt is understood of course, that it is not abso 'lutely necessary toinve-rt `the assembly in order to replace the batteries, but this methodisa simple one.

With reference to Fig. 1-1, it is-noted that notch 48 is of a size toaccommodate passage therethrough of tube |62' and its supporting sockets|64 and |66. Also, that notches 45 facilitate entry of the side marginaledges of reflector ||2 into slideways 22|), and that the outwardlyflared portions 60 of wings 58 serve to guide lower band portion |34 offramework |08 into position whe the assembly |00 is inserted.

From the foregoing, it should Vbe apparent that the invention provides aconstruction which includes many features and advantages not heretoforefound in this type of lamp.

Obviously, the construction may be modified in some respects withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention, which is characterized bythe provision of a sealed casing or container wherein is supported anassembly, .insertable into and removable from the casing as a unit, saidassembly incorporating an arcuate reflector; means ffor supporting allVof the elements and wiring included in a conventional fluorescentlighting sys- Y tem; means for facilitating the removal andreplacementof either the fluorescent tube or the batteries included in said system;and means-for stabilizing the lower end portion of said assembly.

What I claim is:

1. In a fluorescent hand lamp construction: a substantially rectangularcasing provided with ari-arcuate lens in the front wall and a generallyrectangular opening in the top wall thereof; a cover platev for normallysealing said opening;

` a skeleton framework depending from and rigidly secured at its upperend to the underside ofthe cover plate; a latching mechanism hingedlymounted onthe lower end .portion of the framework for releasablysupporting a pair of superposed B batteries within said framework;spaced retainer clips mounted on the bottom `wall of the `casing forengaging the free lower corner portions of said depending framework; anarcuate reflectoryertically coextensive with and supported by theframework in spaced relation to said lens member; a fluorescent tubedisposed between the reflector and said lens also supported by saidframework; .-a switch Yand an assembly rof wiring Y and related elementsforming in combination with said tube and-said batteries a conventionalfluorescent vlighting system mounted in 'said framework between theuppermost Bbattery and said cover plate; anactuating stem for the switchprojecting upwardly through the cover plate; VVa

rectangular opening in the top wall thereof; a` Vcover plate removablysecured'to the top wall of said casing; an endless shallow channel insaid rcover plate formed by a downwardly turned peripheral edge thereonin conjunction with an endless depressed groove-formed therein ininwardly spaced relation'to said edge; a compressible gasket disposed insaid channel for sealing the opening in said top wall when the coverplate is in normal position; a skeleton framework depending from andrigidly secured at its upper end to the underside of the cover plate; alatchng mechanism hingedly mounted on the lower end portion of theframework for releasably supporting a pair of superposed B batterieswithin said framework; spaced retainer clips mounted on the bottom wallof the casing for engaging the free lower corner portions of saiddepending framework; an arcuate reflector vertically coextensive withand supported by the framework in spaced relation to said lens member; afluorescent Atube disposed between the reector and said lens alsosupported by said framework; a switch and an assembly of wiring andrelated elements forming in combination with said tube and saidbatteries a conventional fluorescent lighting system mounted in saidframework between the uppermost B battery and said cover plate; anactuating stem for the switch projecting upwardly through the coverplate; a manually rotatable knob rigidly secured to the projecting endof said stem; a Ihandle rigid with said cover plate for lifting from thecasing the unitary assembly comprising said framework, said cover plate,and all of the elements supported thereby, and for inserting saidassembly into said casing; and spaced vertical slideways provided on thefront wall of said casing for the side marginal edges of said arcuatereflector.

3. In a fluorescent hand lamp construction, the structure set forth inclaim 2 wherein the ineluded skeleton framework depending from the coverplate comprises: four corner angle bars each rigidly secured at itsupper end to a rectangular support consisting of four angle membersmitered and welded together at the corners, the horizontal flangeportions of said angle members being rigidly secured to the underside ofsaid cover member; a pair of horizontally disposed angle members each ofwhich has its ends rigidly secured to a pair of said corner angle barsin such spaced relation relative to said latching mechanism as to snuglyconne said pair of superposed B batteries therebetween; and arectangular metal band encompassing the lower ends of said corner anglesand rigidly secured thereto.

4. In a uorescent hand lamp construction, the structure set forth inclaim 2 wherein the iatching mechanism for releasably supporting thepair of superposed B batteries comprises:

a rectangular band member surrounding and rigidly secured to the lowerend portions of said skeleton framework; a metallic strap member; ahinge element connecting one end of said strap to a portion of said bandmember; a semi-rigid upwardly projecting extension integral with theother end of said strap adapted in the latched position of saidmechanism to bear againstv an adjacent portion of said rectangular band;and a laterally projecting V-shaped thumbpiece portion on said extensionadapted to snap over the upper edge of said band member whereby toreleasably maintain said strap in latched and battery supportingposition.

5. In'a fluorescent hand lamp construction, the structure set forth inclaim 2 wherein the recited switch of the said conventional fluorescentlighting system includes a housing, an upwardly extending hollowthreaded portion and a stem projecting beyond the latterand wherein saidrotatable knob for actuating the switch is secured to the projectingstem thereof by a setscrew, and means forY sealing said cover plateVabout said elements, said means comprising: a resilient gasketinterposed about the hollow threaded portion of said switch between thebottom face of said cover and the upper surface of said housing; ahollow nut in engagement with the upper end of said threaded portion; are- Silient gasket interposed about said threaded portion between thetop face of the cover plate and the bottom surface of said nut; anO-ring of resilient material seated in the upper portion of said nutabout said stem; and an annular recess formed in said knob for shieldingsaid nut Y against fortuitous displacement thereof.

JOSEPH G. PESSINA.

References cites inthe sie of this patent UNITED sTATEs PATENTS NumberName Date 2,263,518 Riner Nov. 18, 1941 2,312,649 Kelly Mar. 2, 19432,413,599 Beck Dec. 31, 1946 2,435,164 Sobel 1 Jan. 27, 1948 FOREIGNPATENTS Number Country Date 107,773 England July 19, 1917 544,704England Apr. 24, 1942

